Ferry sinking off South Korean coast, almost 300 missing

This photo taken on April 16, 2014 shows helicopters heading to aid 476 passengers and crew aboard a South Korean ferry sinking on its way to Jeju island from Incheon, some 20 kilometres off the island of Byungpoong in Jindo. (AFP Photo / South Korea Coast Guard) / AFP

A passenger ferry with 459 people on board has capsized and sunk off the coast of South Korea, with two people declared dead and almost 300 missing. The sinking has been declared the country's biggest peacetime disaster in decades.

One person was found dead inside the sinking vessel, while the
other died shortly after arriving at the emergency ward, Reuters
reported.

The ferry was carrying 459 passengers, of whom 164 were rescued,
Reuters reported.

Earlier reports suggested that 368 people had been rescued and
that about 100 were missing, according to the Ministry of
Security and Public Administration. However, the initial figure
was later revised, as officials said they had miscalculated.

There are conflicting reports about the total number of students
and teachers on board. According to Reuters, a school official
stated that 338 students and teachers were on board, all of whom
have been rescued. However, other estimates put the number at
anywhere between 110 to 160, pending further confirmation from
the Coast Guard.

The high school students were on their way to Jeju Island as part
of a school trip, according to Yonhap news agency.

The South Korea Coast Guard confirmed the vessel’s distress
signal at 8:58 a.m. local time on Wednesday. The signal was sent
out about 20 kilometers off the island of Byungpoong.

Authorities have launched a rescue operation. Vice minister of
security and public administration, Lee Gyeong-Og, told the BBC
that there are 34 naval, coast guard, and civilian ships taking
part in the rescue operation, along with 18 helicopters.

"The ship is taking in water and sinking," a coast guard
spokesman told AFP. "We have coast guard vessels, commercial
ships in the area, as well as helicopters all engaged in the
rescue operation.”

There are reports that the ferry hit a reef during thick fog. YTN
live footage shows the vessel almost completely underwater.

Rescuers were able to remove 197 passengers from the sinking
ferry and take them to a nearby island, according to the Korean
Herald. Shortly after the rescue, the rest of the passengers
began jumping into the water after being told that the vessel was
about to sink.

“Efforts should be made to prevent even one casualty, and a
thorough search [of the ship] must be carried out to ensure
nobody is left behind,” the Korean Herald quoted South
Korea’s President Park Geun-hye as saying. Following the
incident, Park ordered all available vessels and special
operations divers to help with the rescue, Reuters cited the
presidential office as saying. A US Navy vessel has also joined
the rescue operation.

"We heard a big thumping sound and the boat stopped,”
YTN news quoted a passenger as saying. "The boat is tilting
and we have to hold on to something to stay seated.”

The ferry was reportedly identified as 'Sewol' – a vessel that
can carry up to 6,800 tons. The ship was said to have departed
South Korea’s northwestern town of Incheon around 9 p.m. local
time on Tuesday.